How's the rut going to be?

Future Rutting Moon Dates

2014 – November 6th

2015 – October 27th

2016 – November 14th

2017 – November 4th – Synchronized – Intense Rut

2018 – October 24th – Early – Average Rut

2019 – November 12th – Late – Trickle Rut

2020 – October 31st – Synchronized – Intense Rut

The closer the rutting moon (second full moon after the autumn equinox) falls to November 1, the more intense the rut should be. Looking ahead, 2017 and 2020 should provide an exciting few weeks of rut hunting. This year the rutting moon falls on November 4th and they are calling for a “synchronized” rut with peak activity occurring around November 7th and continuing until November 14th. The seeking phase is predicted to begin around October 26th, the chasing phase to begin around November 7th, and the tending/breeding phase also known as “lock down” to begin around November 15th. A synchronized rut occurs when three things align around November 1st – doe estrogen levels peak, bucks testosterone levels peak, and the rutting moon occurs near November 1st. According to their moon theory, synchronized ruts are by far the most intense in terms of rutting behavior and activity.

I don't believe the moon is the deciding factor, I think it happens when its going to happen. For us that means mid December through mid January.

Ours usually starts right around mid december. Or at least according to my brother.

IMHO, the rut is triggered by the length of the photoperiod, which is the relationship of the length of daylight to darkness. IIRC this leads to some sort of hormonal trigger in the animals. Anyway, up in the NE TX Panhandle you can count on mid November.

I also think it is amount of sunlight that triggers ovulations it is opening weekend for me

I pay attention to the moon phases, but it's not the end all be all. From past experience where I hunt, you need to maximize your stand time from the week prior Thanksgiving until the second week of December. A new or full moon during this time frame may help or hurt, but high pressure after a front is usually a boon for deer movement.

I was out this past weekend in Comanche, TX and young buck was already chasing doe. They did about 10 laps around my feeder until he finally chased her into the woods.

Great info, thanks!

I'm seeing bucks following does but not hardcore chasing yet in Llano County.

I've seen young bucks chasing down in Medina county

Last weekend mature bucks were still in groups but would spar and lock horns around the feeder. The doe are already being pestured by the immature bucks. Middle of november is when the rut usually gets strong and by thanksgiving seems to taper off a bit. After that the bucks seem to travel and are on a searching mission for the holdovers in Coleman county. The bucks are looking healthy and our area is starting to see better genetics this year.